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GREEN EARNS ALL-CONFERENCE AT SOCON CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY ONE
https://gomocs.com/news/2021/5/1/cross-country-track-field-green-earns-all-conference-in-10-000-meter.aspx
CULLOWHEE, N.C. --- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga freshman Lesley Green earned all-conference honors on Day One of the Southern Conference Championships. The Mocs currently sit in seventh place with 19 points.
“We had a very strong opening day,” Mocs head coach Andy Meyer said.
“We did very well with four freshmen scoring for us in a variety of events.”
Green finished third in the 10,000 meter run in the opening event at the league championships. She covered the 25 laps in a time of 37:08.81, her first race at this distance. Furman’s Jonna Strange left the group early to claim the title with a time of 35:31.32 followed by teammate Emily Little. All three are freshman and were named to the All-Freshman Team as well.
Makenzie Jones finished sixth overall with a PR time of 37:44.06 and Emma Russum, running in her first outdoor championships, placed seventh in her first 10K at 37:47.86.
“The 10k ladies started the day with a huge effort. They stayed focused on the race plan and executed it to perfection,” Meyer said. “In the first mile we held down three of the last five places but by mile six we held three of the top seven places.
“Lesley Green ran incredibly strong to get a third place finish. Makenzie Jones and Emma Russum following Lesley’s lead ran just as well. For their first 10k in competition they were stellar.”
Kimbra Dunning set a PR in the long jump and advanced to the finals to finish tied for fifth. However, due to the tie-break rule moving to second-best jump, she placed sixth. On her final jump in the prelims, Dunning hit a PR 5.45 meters and lifted head coach Andy Meyer off the ground in celebration of advancing.
“Freshman Kim Dunning jumped a PR and was aggressive all day long in the long jump,” Meyer said. “Coach Gadson had her primed and she was fully motivated.”
Redshirt freshman Faith Brown competed in her first-ever 3000 meter Steeplechase. She cautiously approached the jumps at the start, but gained more confidence as the race went on. She moved up through the pack, just missing all-conference honors in fourth place with a time of 12:21.77. She was, however, named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team in the event.
“Faith stayed patient and let the race come back to her and finished with an outstanding effort,” Meyer said. “Coach Griffin had Faith well prepared for her first attempt at this very difficult event.”
In the preliminary races on Saturday, Nicole Buehrle finished second in her heat to secure a spot in the finals on Sunday. She covered the 800 meter distance in a time of 2:15.35. Emmy Davis just missed qualifying for the finals by 0.26 seconds.
“Nicole did the very minimum and easily qualified for tomorrow’s 800 finals,” Meyer said. “Freshman Emmy Davis had a great race in the 800 as well but just narrowly missed qualifying.”
Imani Bryant set PRs in the 100- and 200-meter races. She ran the 100 meter dash in a time of 12.54, behind teammate McKenzie Williams at 12.34. In the 200m, Bryant ran a PR 26.24 and Williamson finished with a time of 25.78.
With several scratches in the 1500 meter, the prelims on Saturday were cancelled. Only the Sunday final will run.
Buehrle, Ashlynd Broling Miller and Ashtyn Hagood will get the Mocs started on Sunday with the 1500 meter finals at 1:20 p.m. Buehrle will have just over an hour to recover with the 800 meter final running at 2:40 p.m.
“The ladies that competed today definitely were on form mentally and physically,” Meyer said. “We have several good opportunities tomorrow to continue and match the success we had today.”
The Mocs will wrap up the meet with the 5000 meter with five competing in the distance race. Green, Russum, Hagood, Makenzie Jones and Sophia Neglia will all look to add points to the Mocs total.
Women’s results – Day 1
1. Samford – 87 points
2. ETSU – 28
3. Wofford – 27.5
4. Furman – 22
5. The Citadel – 21
6. Western Carolina – 19.5
7. Chattanooga – 19
8. VMI – 9
9. Mercer – 1
10. UNCG – 0
Day 1 champions
Women: 10,000-meter run Jonna Strange, Furman (35:31.32); hammer throw Milan Williams, The Citadel (57.72 meters); pole vault Tally Wilson, Samford (3.97 meters); javelin Erin Long, Samford (42.65 meters); long jump Makaila McIntyre, Western Carolina (5.87 meters); 3,000-meter steeplechase Emma Garner, Samford (10:54.35).
Women’s all-freshman – Day
10,000-meter run
Jonna Strange, Furman
Emily Little, Furman
Lesley Green, Chattanooga
Women’s hammer
Hannah Daffin, Samford
Jenna Reid, Wofford
Emma Nolte, Samford
Women’s pole vault
Brittany Bishop, Samford
Alexis Cook, Samford
Riley Alexander, Samford
Women’s javelin
Erin Long, Samford
Jenna Reid, Wofford
Maddy Cardenas, The Citadel
Women’s long jump
Molly Rhudy, ETSU
Aiya Finch, Samford
Rylee Jorgensen, Wofford
Women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase
Harper McGowan, Samford
Naomi Hahn, VMI
Faith Brown, Chattanooga
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10,000 meter- final
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3
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Lesley Green*
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37:08.81^
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6
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Makenzie Jones
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37:44.06^
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7
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Emma Russum
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37:47.86^
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100 meter – prelims
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11
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McKenzie Williamson
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12.34
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15
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Imani Bryant
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12.54^
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800 meter – prelims
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5
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Nichole Buehrle
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2:16.35#
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10
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Emmy Davis
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2:17.98
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200 meter – prelims
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21
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McKenzie Williamson
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25.78
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26
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Imani Bryant
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26.24^
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3000 meter Steeplechase – final
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4
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Faith Brown
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12:21.77^
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Long Jump – final
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6
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Kimbra Dunning
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5.45^
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* All-Conference
^ Personal Record
# qualified for final